The Federal Government and the European Union (EU) are collaborating to improve food security and food systems in Nigeria through climate-smart technologies.
Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, stated this at the unveiling of the EU–Nigeria Twinning Project on Wednesday in Abuja.
The project is part of the European Union’s support for improving food security and food systems, using climate-smart technologies for Enhanced Value Chain Development in Nigeria.
Abdullahi said the project represented another important milestone in the long-standing cooperation between Nigeria and the EU.
He said that agriculture remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and a critical pillar for national development.
“The sector employs a large proportion of our population and plays a central role in ensuring food security, poverty reduction, and economic growth.
“However, like many countries around the world, Nigeria’s agricultural sector faces increasing challenges arising from climate change.
“Variability in rainfall patterns, droughts, floods, land degradation, and emerging pests and diseases are affecting agricultural productivity and threatening the livelihoods of farmers.
‘It is, therefore, imperative that we strengthen our agricultural systems to become more resilient, productive, and sustainable.
“This is where Climate-Smart Agriculture becomes extremely important,” he said.
He explained that climate-smart agriculture is not only about responding to climate change, but about transforming agriculture to ensure that farmers can increase productivity while protecting the environment and adapting to changing climatic conditions.
He said that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government had placed food security at the top of its national priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Agriculture has been identified as a strategic sector for economic diversification, job creation, and national stability.
